The level of detail spilling out through media reports about crucial national security operations is raising the question of whether President Barack Obama's administration can keep a secret - or in some cases even wants to.

In just the past week, two tell-all articles about Obama's leadership as commander-in-chief have been published, dripping with insider details about his sleeves-rolled-up involvement in choosing terrorist targets for drone strikes and revelations about his amped-up cyber war on Iran.

Each article notes the reporters spoke to "current and former" American officials and presidential advisers, as well as sources from other countries.

"This is unbelievable ... absolutely stunning," a former senior intelligence official said about the level of detail contained in the cyberattack story.

The official noted that the article cited participants in sensitive White House meetings who then told the reporter about top secret discussions. The article "talks about President Obama giving direction for a cyberweapons attack during a time of peace against a United Nations member state."

The article follows on the heels of what many considered dangerous leaking of details about a mole who helped foil a plot by al Qaeda in Yemen. The revelations of the British national threatened what was described at the time as an ongoing operation.

The Yemen plot had many intelligence and national security officials flummoxed and angered by its public airing. Despite that, a senior administration official then briefed network counterterrorism analysts, including CNN's Frances Townsend, about parts of the operation.

But such briefings are an "obligation" for the administration once a story like the Yemen plot is publicized, insisted National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor.

"The reason that we brief former counterterrorism officials is because they are extremely conscientious about working with us about what can and cannot be said or disclosed," Vietor told Security Clearance. "They understand that there is an obligation for the U.S. to be transparent with American people about potential threats but will work with us to protect operational equities because they've walked in our shoes."

Questions were raised about why details of documents and other articles that were seized during the raid were discussed even before the intelligence community had time to review what they were holding.

Leon Panetta, who at the time was the director of the CIA and is now the defense secretary, penned a letter to CIA staff warning against loose lips.

In the letter, obtained by CNN, Panetta wrote that the operation, "led to an unprecedented amount of very sensitive - in fact, classified - information making its way into the press."

"Disclosure of classified information to anyone not cleared for it - reporters, friends, colleagues in the private sector or other agencies, former agency officers - does tremendous damage to our work. At worst, leaks endanger lives," the letter said.

In the latest case, the White House denied it was orchestrating the leak. Asked Friday if the Times' story detailing the cyberattack on Iran was an "authorized leak," White House spokesman Josh Earnest disagreed "in the strongest possible terms."

"That information is classified for a reason. Publicizing it would pose a threat to our national security," Earnest told reporters.

But the White House has tried to be more open about what have been secretive programs. The president himself became the first administration official to acknowledge U.S. drones were conducting attacks in Pakistan when he made a comment to a supporter in an online chat, even though officials through all the years of the program had never said publicly they were being conducted.

Then, in April, the president's assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism, John Brennan, publicly blew the cover off the drone program, saying in a speech that "yes, in full accordance with the law - and in order to prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and to save American lives - the United States government conducts targeted strikes against specific al Qaeda terrorists, sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft, often referred to publicly as drones."

soundoff(827 Responses)

Robert Johnson

Interesting that this administration either cannot or will not maintain essential secrecy on critical national security matters, but is easily capable of maintaining secrecy in legislative matters after falsely promising transparency.

Or that they want their 'secrets' to be known so that China would stop their economic sabotage in the USA. Heck, cyberwar has been going on for decades....its not new nor is anyone surprised. My money is that they are using Iran as a testing ground and letting everyone know it.

Thank you, Mr. "President" for putting our NATION in grave danger yet again! Have you not done enough to our economy and the Mass Murder of INNOCENT CHILDREN – (Now by sex and race selection)?? Everyone knows that you are a Muslim for certain now; a TRUE Christian would NEVER do the things you do. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! ...

Byronswetland, you begin by thanking the "President", which is for some reason quotated, to asking a question without a question mark, spelling Mass Murder not with capital letters, but only with the first letter of each word capitalized, to spelling INNOCENT CHILDREN and NATION with all capitals, to using a dash before writing something which makes absolutely no sense within parentheses and ending it with two question marks, to sarcastically calling the president a Muslim and contrasting that with TRUE Christian(s) that would never do something I believe you may actually be referring to in those parentheses, before ending with a GOD BLESS AMERICA all in capitals, and three, count 'em three, exclamation marks and an ellipsis. So, what the hell are you actually trying to say?

Obama is the most arrogant and ego driven President in U.S. history. The leaks from his administration done soley to try and make him look good and help his reelection have injured many people, most recently that poor Dr in Pakistan that helped us with Bin Laden. Does Obama care? NO! He doesn't care about anybody but himself. Whether foreign policy, National Security, UNEMPLOYMENT, or the economy Obama is the worst most failed President in U.S. history. If you didn't know it before today's jobs report told you all you needed to know. Obama is an utter and complete disaster!

This whole Gobment is corrupt. Both Dems and Repubs. Time we take our land and freedom back people. It really is us against them. They don't give a flying F_about what we want. Make their pockets bigger as we suffer.

"Brandon" :Pencil pushers who merely stamp paperwork or empty the trash are not considered to actually be in intelligence though technically they are "in" the offices. Frankly you are too partisan and stupid to be anything but a wannabee and the fact that it bothers you means your ONLY credentials are the ones you create in your armchair at night pretending you "know things"

You did not even know what the word "onus" meant or even that you should be able to look it up on line–asking me what it meant. Now THAT is a breach of intelligence alright. Too funny.

Oh please. Maybe a few leaks would stop the government from being so smug with all the secrecy. As far as drone strikes and government sanctioned assassinations there should be more information about it. The government crossed a line when they decided they could assassinate American born people with no oversight, no due process, nothing. We have a right to know if such unprecedented powers are being abused. The amazing thing is people will still praise the man who decided he should be judge, jury, and executioner. Obama has also stated that his judgment and the way the "targets" are selected is an "adequate substitute" to constitutional laws.

What battlefield? The American born targets were nowhere near a battlefield. Why do you think the politicians on both side of the isle want the entire globe to be considered a battlefield, including American soil? It gives them carte blanche for the program. Also, where's the evidence that the targets were conspiring? It's locked up. Classified under the iron curtain of national security. No courts allowed to review any of the evidence. A few men in suits decide who to execute and if you're an American you will be denied pretty much every constitutional right you have because they say so. Guess what else? One day another party will control the White House and will have the precedent to continue such policy. People would have been howling if this had been done under Bush. It is also stunning that people are okay with corrupt politicians deciding who to murder with no check on that power and no way to challenge it if there are abuses.

June 2, 2012 at 1:22 am |

byronswetland

So a few Nuclear Code Leaks would be fine as well, I suppose? ANYTHING that puts our Nation at Jeopardy should be kept out of the hands that do not care about our Freedom and Safety! Like Barry Hussein for example...

It is not just this administration, believe me. They have all done it to one extent or another. They think it is 'making friends' in the press and around the world. They don't really give a damn about who it hurts.

It's not about making friends. It is about using information to manipulate public opinion. This is not new and not the purview of this admin. They ALL do it, but when it is the opposite party then the party NOT in power bellyaches, but when their party is in and the admin does it, they will defend this–as predictable as stink on dog doo.

It's called transparency. Have we all gotten so used to the previous administration who threatened to fire, blackball and blackout media coverage that we've have forgotten the way this country SHOULD be run? For the people. Not against them.

Yeah ok. Why does the average joe with a clearance then loose his job at best, probably get fined and go to jail if they blab classified info. If the admin wants 'transparency' then they need to change the rules across the board; not just operate above the law.

I call it just plain stupid. People will be hurt. Trying to grandstand to win an election on other peoples backs isn't right. this administration should be ashamed of themselves. I have three brother's in the military and I don't want them in danger because of bragging rights of a President who is so inexperienced that he puts the men and woman who served him in danger. As for his getting Bin Laden he did not plan it, but took all the credit and put not only Seal Team 6 in danger (they NEVER mention which team went in to protect the men) and a doctor who helped us by his bragging, not a good leader.

We may have different definitions of "transparency". Transparency that endangers human, and particularly American lives = bad. Transparency in how the government calculates unemployment numbers, or the President's education records, tax records, etc. = good.

..finish the sentence–he doesn't bite the hand that feeds–ALL OF THE US and holds a good portion of our debt. We really do not want to alienate or go up against China–all the arm chair warriors would find out just how unpleasant war is when it comes calling to our own shores and our towns and houses and families' safety are up for grabs.

Always more to the story than the avg person contemplates or understands. Intelligence is the accruing of information. More important than what we tell is what we with hold and why.

Governments often mete out information. When it is done, the ostensible motive is usually not the real one. When any administration releases information, they are doing it for a reason and what we don't know is what they don't share.

It is not just about loose lips or secrets or stupidity–sometimes MISINFORMATION is deliberately disseminated. It is hard for the public to tell or even discern the difference. What you can guarantee, NO MATTER WHO is in the White House is that information will be leaked or spilled or deliberately shared with the public and will not be done to inform so much as to manipulate us or a situation. Obama is not the first, neither was Bush for that matter, this has a long history and those who lambast this administration are just partisan hacks and hypocrites.

Excuse me, but how is saying "we are using drones" leaking anything? Or for that matter the Stuxnet thing (who else could/would have done that)? The Yemen situation is different but there is no evidence that the administration condoned that leak.

I am against war want peace U.S. we failed to fight poverty in society Say No to drugs, racism, guns and violence The world needs LOVE Obama the people want food, education, security, transport, employment with decent pay and health quality Growing China, Russia and Brazil to Mexico ... U.S. once again be great. Do not use weapons live Martin Luther King. Say no to fast food is unhealthy I want to sustainable U.S. There is but a dream goal of America

Couple of notes.
A. news organizations shouldn't print things from unverifiable sources. All these random "he said she said" stuff could easily be made up by an "aggressive" reporter. (it has happened many times in the past).
B. People should be held accountable for revealing classified information.

Obama's preoccupation with self-promotion is disturbing–especially when sensitive information dealing with our national security is compromised. I wonder if he even listened to his oath of office when he was sworn in?

If some of you who blame the current president for all that is wrong and where the country is now...... You really must be down on what happened with the last administration...... Do you really think that the last time Repubs was in office things was better and do you really want the same thing again where spending and cuts for people with money that is financing public officials train of thought is better for all America? I am so happy to read that all of the negative responses to our sitting President is from all you rich people with life long medical insurance with safe pensions and will be living off our tax dollars. I am so happy to hear from you who pay for the congress people who have all that and they know you will never get and voting againdt it and have you believing that they are working for you. THEY ARE WORKING FOR PEOPLE WHO PUT MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.... Stop looking at parties, color. Look at reality, Look at where they left you..... And where they want to go back to.... If you are in the top dollar makers.... This is not for you... Shame that the people with money and decreased regulations caused great harm to this country and is passing the blame on everybody else.... If we go back to to same policies as the last administration where the so called job creaters created outside of this country. God bless America..... We all are liberal about some things in life and we are also conservetive about things too.... For some members to sign newly created documents to say they will not do this or that because for the party is wrong.... Did they ask you? Who are they working for?

As the article pointed out, maybe they don't want to keep it a secret. As to the US "attacking" a UN member nation (Iran) I think that matters not even a little. They are part of the new Axis of Evil. Play Axis of Evil and Allies board game, only $29.99 from Milton Bradley!

Okay...I'm as big of an Obama critic as anyone, but I have an issue with this article. First, coming out of the W. presidency, everyone was squawking about no transparency of government. Now, it's the opposite?! I'm sorry, people, but you got what you paid for. Only way to fix it is to vote him out of the office. Never have so many people known so little about their chosen leader until Obama came along. It's frightening.

Obama is deperate for approval, which is shown by his penchant for "spiking the football" by touting exactly how terrorists are caught or killed. Every single move this President makes has a political reason behind it, and these leaks are no different. He is concerned, first and foremost, with his re-election, not the security of this country.

He was not James Bond, just like he is right now–he was/is JAWS. All mouth. LOL

June 2, 2012 at 12:01 am |

Brandon

ignore the troll, she is just here for attention, she obviously does not have a man to give it to her.

June 2, 2012 at 1:01 pm |

queenbee10

Pencil pushers who merely stamp paperwork or empty the trash are not considered to actually be in intelligence though technically they are "in" the offices. Frankly you are too partisan and stupid to be anything but a wannabee and the fact that it bothers you means your ONLY credentials are the ones you create in your armchair at night pretending you "know things"

You did not even know what the word "onus" meant or even that you should be able to look it up. Now THAT is a breach of intelligence alright. Too funny.

CNN are you really just now figuring this out? WOW you are very slow on your feet CNN. No wonder all your ratings have tanked so badly. OF COURSE Obama cannot be trusted. Ask the hero sitting in Pakistan that got Bin Ladin for us. That is right he got the blood that proved it was Osama then Obama ratted him out. How about Obama being caught on MIC hey tell putting after I am re-elected I can deal with this missile defense thing for him. Obama is a danger both domestically and for foreign affairs. The whole world is starting to wonder if he even wants America to win.

It was Medvedev to whom he offered a post election deal on missile defense but, yeah, you are right on the money. I'm surprised there has not been a huge outrage about the open mike 'deal' offer. What an idiot.

Keeping a secret in the highest concentration of knowledge in human history, with 60 million volumes in the Library of Congress, growing by 10,000 volumes a day, backed up by 3,000 colleges and universities, hundreds of think tanks, and the biggest economy in human history? What's the point? What is this, the 1950s? Secret-schmecret... all you need is research and critical thinking and nothing remains hidden.... NOTHING!

recently it came out that osama put a hit out on obama but strictly said leave Biden alone

June 1, 2012 at 11:27 pm |

MJ

Read the NYT article on Secret 'Kill List'. Obama has added a 17 year old suspect to his drone strike list. She'll never see a trial for her supposed crime. All she'll see is a missile launched at her from an unmanned aircraft. Judge. Jury. and Executioner.

June 1, 2012 at 11:30 pm |

Josh

Sounds about right. But Obama says it's okay because even though these targeted assassinations are widely believed to be illegal, he says that his judgment and the way the program is set up is an "adequate substitute" to constitutional laws.

For the past eleven years we've had some serious failures in many areas starting at the top and working down to the military and the intelligence community. Most of the worst failures have been over the last three years. I sure miss Bill Clinton.

It is hilarious how many people here are acting like they even understand how intelligence works or even what "classified" means. I would love to see how many people here actually have a background in intel compared to how many have no clue.

Right here Mofo – and Obama is disgraceful for divulging the things that he has. We are not unbeatable superstar,especially when our executive in chief tells our enemies how to beat us. f'n idiot prez.

Obama is desperate to get re-elected but can’t run on his record, which is why he’s bringing the smoke and mirrors. Using class warfare to scare women, blacks, Hispanics, and g_ys into voting for him. His real platform is “By any means necessary”. I'm sick of the division and the negativity.

At least Romney isn’t running away from his record and is openly challenging Obama to talk about Bain, his governorship, and his record heading the 2002 Olympics. Romney has decades of experience dealing economically with China and other foreign countries. To do that, he had to have a clear understanding of America’s foreign policy, trade agreements, countries that are hostile, open markets, ally relations, etc. We put Obama in office and didn’t care that he had no experience.

Sorry, but there’s no way I can give Obama another 4-years. My children's future is hanging in the balance.

If you're sick of division and negativity, you're on the wrong side..... Anyway, Romney was touting his business experience hoping it would make conservatives forget he's really a moderate and had a lot of the same policies in place that Obama does. He took Mass from 37th to 47th over his tenure economically. He only recently flipflopped back to prolife because he was told it would get the hard right vote. He's a lying weasel. And, he put many companies into recievership at Bain, now that you mention it. I watched him gut GST. You better hope for another future for your kids than what he has planned. Are you very wealthy? That's who will benefit, not you.

Compare the records between the two and then come again. My sister has been employed with Staples for over 12 years – a company Romney founded that has over 100,000 employees today. Romney’s business prowess saved the 2002 Olympics (that was millions in debt). He brought in over $180 million in revenue from sponsors and broke the record for raising private money for any Olympics.

Look – the rubber has met the road here. People are out of jobs and hurting. Obama can only fudge numbers, sling mud, and talk out the side of his mouth. He has no record of any real successes. He says his stimulus spending will eventual materialize into jobs and growth, but those are just words. He hasn’t given any facts to back anything up!

The best you can do is say Romney is a flip flopper and continue this dead talk about Bain. Even the media is no longer talking about Bain because Mitt has put up numbers to prove that there were successes and failures at Bain. Hard numbers and facts. Proof of business growth and pumping trillions back into the economy over his lifetime.

And please don’t reply with the same old leftist rhetoric. I highly suggest you read the book “The Amateur” by Edward Klein.

June 1, 2012 at 11:46 pm |

XxMacleodxX

of course he cannot keep a secret....he has done so little that every little success, no matter how minute or secret it should be, has to be blown up and plastered on every news site

THERE is nothing more despicable and hypocritical than double standards and selective outrage. For those of us who lived through and blogged through the Bush years–the Obama years appear like a weaker version of the same old tactics–its just that the whining is more strident coming from the right than it was when the Democrats were on the outside.

So this is opposed to the previous president who got us INTO a pointless Middle East quagmire in the first place? At least we're removing troops from combat zones and making less of a footprint where we don't belong. Much fewer American lives are in danger now.

The invasion of Iraq was pointless. And initiated under false pretenses.

June 1, 2012 at 11:17 pm |

Tim

pt, what does 9/11 have to do with Iraq? See the point?

June 1, 2012 at 11:19 pm |

queenbee10

..or better yet, attack the countries that financed the terrorists instead of finding a scapegoat due to disliking the leader.

21 hijackers–19 from Saudi Arabia and 2 from Yemen–financing from sources in Saudi Arabia and Yemen–so who we attack and destroy killing and maiming hundreds of thousands? –Why Iraq, of course. POINTLESS is one thing, straight up buffooneried evil is another.

Guess when Pearl Harbor got attacked, Roosevelt should have let Mexico have it.

June 1, 2012 at 11:19 pm |

MJ

Al qeada was destroyed. There is no justification for our military anymore!

June 1, 2012 at 11:23 pm |

Jason

Instead, the note said: We know you are in Iraq. Here we come. Be very afraid. Now, watch this drive!

June 1, 2012 at 11:23 pm |

XxMacleodxX

their are a list of quotes a mile long from democrats urging wars with Iraq all the way back to Clinton .....both sides are guilty and carry the blame

Never said there were any laws against Spanish. But ..history shows that one of the main factors of the decline of the Roman Empire was the failure to maintain a cohesive language and common culture in the face of disparate cultures that had been conquered. To put it bluntly in order for a people to live, work together and trust each other in spite of cultural, racial, religious and other differences, they MUST have commonality in society, language and goals–whey they do not, divisions set in. We are an English speaking country–people can speak whatever they want, but for public discourse we need no subversive intrusions of other languages it would be just one more for those not English or Spanish oriented to have to assimilate.

the point is not about what has been leaked with or without authorization. the point is about keeping means and methods effective by not making it any easier for anyone to shore up exploitable points of weakness. it is quite expected that american computer controlled systems (power, water, sewage, etc) has lots of security holes. other systems are just as susceptible. the major difference is that the united states is (at least nominally) accountable to the international community. the "rogue states" are less so, generally speaking. but for whoever is assisting us in keeping nuclear weapons proliferation down seems like they are owed at a minimum the warm blanket of anonymity. the obama administration accrues little to no personal risk, as opposed to the guy or gal acctually doing the work. hats off to them, and a beer raised in their direction.

They are only going to "leak" info that they want. Lets see the "leaks" about how much bribery (read lobbying) the house and senate get for passing bills that take freedoms away from the people and help the corporations that pay them.

This president can't tout his economic successes, because there aren't any, so he is trying to convince the American people how tough he is with terrorists (even if he reveals everything to our enemies), and how good he is to same sex couples (even if he hasn't done anything other than talk).
It's the economy, stupid! Where are the jobs?????
Bush ran us into a ditch; and Obama keeps digging deeper!! We need a change all right, a change from Obama's change!!

No, actually not. More people have dropped off the unemployment roles because benefits ran out and they still can't find work. Job creation has not kept up with the actual labor force.

June 1, 2012 at 11:52 pm |

slupdawg

A change to, what? 2004-2008? That's what Romney wants. Is that what you want? How about let's have a congress that doesn't do everything in it's power to make sure no meaningful jobs bill gets passed? How about they quit introducing 10X the number of anti-abortion bills to stall and waste time while the economy fails so they can claim Obama's economic package sucks, so they can win a reelection? How about they work on some damn jobs instead of a bunch of RW fetish issues?

You don't know what they are doing. There is all kinds of scheming and information and disinformation being put out there. Some is true, some isn't. Some is meant to make them think we have more than we have or less than we have, or to get them off guard, or to pursue things that will take them off our trail. Noting in this line of business is as simple as it looks. Even this story could be part of a disinformation war.

Have you? If you say yes–then you have not. the onus on Security is FOREVER and the internet does not negate that.

June 1, 2012 at 11:23 pm |

Brandon

well it looks like you have already "childishly" answered for me. Not surprised after reading your mindless comments QB. And BTW I am actaully an Army intel instructor in Sierra Vista AZ. Look it up.

June 1, 2012 at 11:25 pm |

Brandon

and wtf is onus? You obviously have no clue what you are talking about dingbat.

June 1, 2012 at 11:28 pm |

queenbee10

Brandon–you are a joke and a dangerous one at that. If you supply ANY name to me, it does not mean it is yours or you are who you say and IF you are and wish to brag or in any way validate your standing as it pertains to intelligence you are either a liar or someone that needs to be reported to higher command because you LACK the discipline to discourse without divulging credentials which invalidates intelligence and operatives in the first place. I think you were given perhaps a teeny bit of clearance and an intelligence rating and you have gleaned from that a place in the scheme of things that is mostly in your own mind.

Only big mouths would get on the internet and tout intelligence credentials–bet that did not teach THAT at the Pink Panther institute, now did they? LOL

June 1, 2012 at 11:42 pm |

queenbee10

Brandon

and wtf is onus? You obviously have no clue what you are talking about dingbat."

Oh my–a so called "intelligence person" with a limited understanding of the English language and a penchant for name calling–MO: white male, between 16-45 in the basement, in his skivvies, with a bud light, 3-4 weeks growth of beard, a playboy and a copy of Atlas Shrugged, The Hobbit, the Bourne books by Ludlum and the ubiquitious twinkies by his side. LOL

ONUS is a word, cowboy–it means responsibility or burden–now....try to look words up and when google represents limitations for you–go out and get a hard copy of a real dictionary–if you are really an instructor of anything it is small wonder "our kids is not learnin'" TOO FUNNY and try to stop the denigration–it undermines your pretense of credibility. "Intelligence...NOT.

June 1, 2012 at 11:50 pm |

queenbee10

Brandon–I did not answer for you–you do that for yourself. I will say I have relatives that were in Intelligence and one thing we were told is to discount the people who say they are in intelligence–because the higher up you are, the less likely you are to disclose it. You can speak about intelligence and what it entails while not actually being "in" it yourself. I know of no one in intelligence (and yes I do know people who purportedly are) who would EVER deign to discuss it in public –in ANY forum knowing that all information can be SOURCED.

wow, you sound kind of paranoid. Maybe you should ask those you know who are "really" in intelligence about the community. Maybe then you will know we aren't all black ops assasins. damn, you really sound dumb. I bet you have like 20 cats.

June 1, 2012 at 11:40 pm |

queenbee10

I already did–they said you sound like a flake and that there are always a lot of people like you either satelliting around the military or in a basement somewhere pretending to be something you do not have a clue about. People in intelligence also do not bad mouth our leaders, because their allegiance transcends party or any particular group temporarily in power but again–not taught in your mail order course from the Pink Panther institute. LOL

June 1, 2012 at 11:45 pm |

Brandon

Lol! you watch too many movies.

June 1, 2012 at 11:45 pm |

Brandon

"People in intelligence also do not bad mouth our leaders" LOL. Now I know you don't know any MI folks. Quit wasting my time troll.

June 1, 2012 at 11:47 pm |

queenbee10

Brandon=the intelligence wannabee. You washed out of the military didn't you Brandon? Or did you ever really apply–too easy to see through–"dingbat" is so passe WHO says that? Why people who don't get out of the basement, that's who.

Time to stop feeding the trolls–you just want attention and frankly you are too obvious to keep getting any. WASTE OF TIME and a FAKE WINDBAG. What a combination. LOL

June 1, 2012 at 11:53 pm |

Daniel West

Having served in the military in a intelligence operation it is absolutely outrageous that infomation has been leaked to the mass media to make the president look good and to promote his reelection. This is an act of treason!!! Such disclosure does tremendous damage to the security of the USA as well as leading to the deaths and endangering of military lives. POTUs should be impeached !! Certainly not reelected!!

The Obama administration is trying to score political points at the expense of future national security. Never have we had such a narcisitic adminstration, willing to sell out those on watch for a few points in the polls.

June 1, 2012 at 11:15 pm |

slupdawg

Really? It does? I'm sure the drones were still a big secret. Nobody knew we were using them, right? Get real. As for the cyberhacking, the Iranian govt knew good and well they were compromised and that they had been had. It's all old news. Get off your high horse.

There's a line you don't cross. Everyone can "know" about drones, it's another thing to divulge how they're used, who calls the shots, etc... Coca Cola doesn't give up the recipe just because evryone knows it's tastey. Your's is the thinking of a simpleton.

June 1, 2012 at 11:18 pm |

queenbee10

I suspect this administration keeps as many secrets as any other admin before it and manipulates the media and information when it suits it. Bush's admin had leaked such detrimental info as

1. the fake propaganda in iraq,
2. the mishandling of info about two proposed "heros" in the wars,
3.the routing and using of White Phosphorus against a civilian population in 2004
4. The redirecting and stealing of over 900 Million dollars by an Iraqi operative
5. The downing street memo fiasco
6.The outing of a CIA agent by the admin
7. Rendition information
8. The wiretapping of avg US citizens
9. The bogus information about yellow cake and dirty labs in Iraq
10. The FEMA failures
11. The mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and at Gitmo
12. The gang rape of a 14 year old by American soldiers and the subsequent murder of her and her family

ALL of which could have been handled differently and squelched. Sadly in between all that was the manipulation and distorting of the actual Iraqi casualties which negates the true number and deaths of those people forever (the US set up conditions for reporting casualties which rendered the majority not eligible for counting despite the fact the bodies were there and could be counted)

All this and more–When a government that has so much control over the media they are in bed with them and can command abject obedience (as with the wiretapping) they are managing information–they release it for PR or when they want to make a point and manipulate the public, they retain it and label it "national security " when they are doing stuff they have no business doing or do not want us or our enemies to know. some of what they do has no bearing on an enemy–but it would not be great if we knew (like when the government conducts harmful experiments on soldiers AND on small towns in America that result in illness/cancer.

For the latter, the government usually ADMITS to the truth of the experiments decades after the fact and seldom to never makes restitution to the people or the survivors–they just say "oops sorry" and move on, corpses–discounted.

We should not be surprised the level to which this administration or our country sinks in corruptive behavior–it did not start in 2008 but decades before and it will not end in 2012–no matter who gets elected or takes over the government.

thats not leaking intelligence, that is releasing information regarding crap that just happened, not classified intelligence.

June 1, 2012 at 11:04 pm |

queenbee10

The information about the CIA agent, the yellow cake and the Downing street memo were classified as was the fact we had committed war crimes by using White Phosphorus against a civilian population

June 1, 2012 at 11:10 pm |

Kanageloa

Seriously QB can you understand the difference? Apparently not. Try a little harder and you'll see that the Obama Administration is a room full of clowns and it starts at the top.

June 1, 2012 at 11:15 pm |

Brandon

OK, it obviously would take me a long time to explain what constitutes classified and declassified to you so I will put it this way. The yellow cake information was given after it was concluded the intelligence was no long valuable, "declassified". and the W.P. thing was not "classified" people tried to keep it quiet for PR reasons. The CIA Agents identity issue was not divulged by Bush's administration if I remember correctly. It was a single politician.

June 1, 2012 at 11:17 pm |

queenbee10

Well, as an Independent, it really is hard to swallow the double standard and hypocrisy the side that is not in power as they malign and complain about the other party but defend the same kind of stuff when their party does it. Republicans have NO LEGS or moral ground to stand on. FACT.

its not a double standard, it is apples and oranges. You are talking about lies and we are talking about intel leaks. Two different things that do not validate the other.

June 1, 2012 at 11:26 pm |

slupdawg

These leaks are on purpose. Lets the population know that the administration is actively fighting our enemies, and without having to resort to boots on the ground, like some other, less enlightened presidents.

Does anyone truely believe this man has our country's best interests at heart? My son just joined the Army and this president and his administration scare me more for his and his comrades safety than the enemy itself. There have been treasonable acts perpetrated on the American people by individuals within our government throughout our history as a nation, but I can't recall anything that looks and feels like treasonable acts as what we have witnessed from this administration during this man's period in power. Our Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sisters, mothers, aunts and children that have paid the the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and way of life must look down on all that is Barack Obama and wonder....how did we lose our way? Why is the hand on our nations rudder steering us on such a dark and dismal course.....?

I was scared the day my son started telling me this was the path he wanted to take. I hoped he would change his mind, but he believes in what and why he decided to join...you act as though it was my place to determine what this young man's decision should have been....how delusional are you to make that kind of judgement call on why my son decided to join and the pride he feels in doing his part to protect this nation and allow you and I to have this disagreement....and for what it's worth, he feels pretty much the same in his discontent with our president as I do as well as millions of others, but he didn't let that stop him from doing what he felt he needed to do....the reasons are bigger to him than allowing his feelings towards our president to stop him...I'm proud of him...especially with the knowledge that he didn't let his political views get in the way of his decision.

Did you believe Bush or any Republican president has our best interests at heart? It is JUST a job–it is a paycheck and fooling the American populace is the career. the big payoff comes after they are in office. If you propose Romney or Cheney or Bush or McCain or Palin are better than Obama–then you are delusional. None care about us and few Congress people care either. Those that do are sidelined. It all is a scam and frankly anyone who thinks differently must sweep quite a bit that we know and have learned under the rug to hold onto the mudfeet of their particular godlet.

Criminals all and I for one ESPECIALLY despise anyone whose idea of running for office is to not tell us the good they plan to do but just runs down another person–

I also DESPISE ANY PARTY who would allow Americans to suffer even one day just to undermine an administration to get their party back into power–which –if Romney wins in November, there is a good chance I will be despising the Democrats though I will also acknowledge the lack of cooperation is something the GOP had coming. You REAP what you SOW.

I've considered myself to be fairly independent for a good many years and I haven't much cared for many of the presidents we've had in office regardless of my party affiliation...I have voted the way I saw fit....based on what the gut feeling I have developed for the given candidate. I'm pretty moderate in my thinking, but there never seems to be a place for moderates in our system...they're usually censored and minimalized....Because I make a statement regarding my gut feelings about this president I must be a Paid Romney supporter or that my opinions about this president must be some veiled support for one or all of the names on the list of Republicans that you rattle off is way off base. If I want to throw my support behind someone I'll come out and say it. This is one man's opinion about a president that scares me...don't connect dots that aren't there...

June 2, 2012 at 12:04 am |

John

Uh, this is the POTUS who ended the Iraq War as promised and who is winding down the Afghan War as promised. Who got pirates and bin Laden and many of his group, before they could get us. I understand your fear for a son in uniform, he is where the rubber meets the road, but pay attention for a minute to what is REAL here.

So, given the dynamics of the geopolitical landscape at this point in history no other president would have ended the war in Iraq nor would be winding down the our presence in Afghanistan? Like Queenbee 10 says it's just a job with a paycheck so, any placeholder should have been able to do the same thing....just like the place holder before him got us into the wars, right? And the placeholder before him sat on the sidelines and almost let central Europe melt down into World War III....so on and so on.....and Nixon ended the Viet Nam war and......

June 2, 2012 at 12:31 am |

JerPell

The man has nothing else to run on except for relying on the military he hates so much....Obama is a complete farce!

I suspect the debacle that lead to the downing of our most advanced UAV in iraq was not caused by mechanical failure but rather by a reckless flight into icing conditions...in an aircraft that was not equipped with de-ice equipment. I have to ask: Are we taking too many chances for political motivated reasons?

Our wonderful Government has always leaked like a sieve but now its gotten just too stupid to believe. People should be going to jail for this.
And its all for political gain.
You ppl take note right now: if *I ever get elected that stuff's gonna stop right bloody now.

Give us an example of your outrage when Cheney outed a CIA agent or when the administration was releasing bogus reports about yellow cake or where dirty labs were located. I remember a time when no administration would have put bullet or bomb riddled bodies on tv for display–but hey, that was when America still had honor and integrity.

We have till November.......Obama will have time to get us in big trouble with his egotistical attitude toward the Presidency......he has no conscience and has no ability to conduct international affairs. He needs to be sent home to Chicago before we have a war we will not be able to win because of his inept leadership. He has Hillary Clinton by his side....two people who have NEVER seen a military uniform except from a great distance. They both need to be impeached or fired or both!

Good, where were your brains when Bush administration were messing the country up?, I guess you've just seen the light. If there is anything called impeachment, then the Bush and his stupid administration that took us to this senseless wars and by destroying the economic fiber of the American society and taking us into recession should be impeached. You just wake up and make stupid comments simply because you don't the the "person" President Obama.

The real question is "Can the news media keep a secret regarding national security" and that is the real problem, since all they care about is making a buck" I believe they would pimp their own mother or sisteer if it meant making a dollar from it.

It's what happens when you are a politician and not a statesman. When the propaganda machine for your own self image and retention of power is more important than the country. As former Presidents and World Leaders have said.. Obama is incompetent and ignorant.

Well Bill Clinton called Obama an amateur and incompetent. Nicholas Sarkozy called Obama "weak kneed and uninformed" (in french however) and the Foreign Minister of Poland called him "ignorant and incompetent".

June 1, 2012 at 10:47 pm |

itscion

All of the various news reports coming out are keeping the Obama professional apologists making OT pay on CNN boards. lmfao!!!!!

The USA is so behind the tech age it's no wonder this countries leaders are idiots. The old timers look for information like they did in the 60's and even Mitt talks like it's th Cold War. Well the rest of the World has moved on an those old Nuclear weapons are nothing compared to what's out there now. Most of the elected officials have no clue how to use a cell phone or a computer. These dumb old times ask others to do their work and makes a good way for terrorist. Thank goodness for Obama. Notice how not one Law Maker or Media reporter said a word when Cheney leak classified information as they were afraid of Cheney. The Foreign leaders are laughing at how dumb Mitt Romney is and notice he openly lies and would know the truth is it smacked him in the face. The US already has Presidents that Foreign Leaders could believe until the two Presidents Bush and Cheney lied for 8 years. Looks like the US will have another liar Mitt Romney as President and a real honest Vietnam Draft Dodger to lead the Military.

With so many leaks, from cyber warfare, drones, tatics of war and everything else no one can seriously believe it's a coincidence. This administration is probably trying to scare enemies or hate America so much that they want it gone so they can shape into something else.

What really bothers me is the stuff the Bush Administration did behind closed doors that WE AMERICANS should have known about! Dick Cheney held secret closed-door meetings and negotiated with big energy companies with NO oversight or public input. We still do not know what arrangements or contracts were secretly forged.

Eric... your'e the idiot, what our Gov't does in secret affects us. Have you forgotten 911, do you think this happened in issolation? Our secret activities have stirred up a hornets nest yet back here at home we think we are do gooders who are unfairly targetted by "them". Grow up.. our actions have consequences and "we the people" need to know what is being done in our name.

Just remember, kids. After the Obama Administration actually did accomplish the mission of taking out Osama bin Laden, Obama didn't make a big fanfare of saying "Mission Accomplished" like Bush did after he failed to do so. But then again, getting Osama bin Laden wasn't really Bush's priority. His priority was making his rich friends richer. And that he actually did do.

66Biker – you realize Bama waited until election Season to brag about killing Bin laden. He deserves credit for making the call, but he didn't kill bin laden. The Seals killed Bin laden yet he's taking the credit without acknowledging the men who actually risked their lives while Bama was holding hands with Hillary and Uncle Joe.

Yes, Obama is taking some credit for Osama's death, but when did Obama NOT give credit to the servicemen? That's a flat out lie.

June 1, 2012 at 11:14 pm |

Ken from FL

I spent more than two decades in intelligence, constantly angered over the danger to operations that leaks such as these represented. This current crop of national security advisors, starting at the top with the Tom Donilon, are truly a bunch of idiots, and they work for a boss who has absolutely no conception of what national security really means. He truly is the amateur. November can't get here soon enough.

Clinton (Bill) hated the military. I don't see that in Obama. He seems to genuinely appreciate the troops, and recognizes their sacrifices. I don't agree with a lot of his policies, and no doubt he has idiots in his administration who do hate the military, but he seems respectful and appreciative.

of course they do. As if Iran, China, and Russia don't know what's going on.LOL

People are so stupid here. If I was Obama, I would leak as much as possible because the GOP has every intention of lying about everything. So Obama should take credit where credit is deserved. By revealing these covert operations'" after they happen", it makes the GOP lies look as pathetic as they are.

Breaking up the cell is good. Making the foreign country think that a mole is providing you info is great. Now pick the person in the foreign government that does the most against the US and paint him as the mole.

We've got service men and women depending on their CO's to keep their mouths shut. That includes the C-I-C. The CNN article re: the F22 Raptor is another example of way too much info being "leaked." Politics...American lives are depending on these bozos. God help them–and us!

Leon Pannetta said about a week ago that should a country attack us using what he called "cyber", it would be an act of war. So now obismal orders a covert act of war and now through his "leaks" goes about telling the world in an obvious attempt for voter support.

Frankly if he had proper authorization (if required) I have no problem with it, but the leaks that could result in retaliation for political points....someones head should be rolling.

It's Obama's covert operations and he can reveal whatever he wish's- he's the one commanding these operations and he's the one with the brass balls that tells these peon generals what to do. Would you rather have another dipsh*t Republican from Texas come in and screw it all up all over again?

One president's military missions killed Saddam Hussein (captured, trial, haning). The other one's ok for intervention led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden. I'd say they both captured and got rid of, two massive Weapons of Mass Destruction.

But hey, I'm sure YOU could do better than Bush right? Must be nice to serve an entire Presidency with zero economic progress but get an asterick that says "It's all Bush's fault."

Oh, and I guess you get to forget that it was the policies put in place by the President Bill Clinton that led to the housing collapse right? Oh yeah, but that was on Bush's watch so it's all his fault.

Hey, the dude spent money like no tomorrow and didn't help ANYONE out. But he had alot of crap came down during his presidency that no other sitting President EVER faced. And that is a fact.

June 1, 2012 at 10:20 pm |

joep199

Obama didn't get 3000 Americans killed to get bin Laden

June 1, 2012 at 10:22 pm |

eric

Actually there HAVE been over 3000 casualties in the Afghan war. And Obama transitioned from Iraq to Afghanistan to get Bin Laden.

nice try.

June 1, 2012 at 10:26 pm |

eric

The biggest difference is the number of life changing wounded returning from the Afghan war. Any person with an ounce of military training and history behind them realised that the war in Afghanistant would be bloodier than the Iraq war. And it is turning out to be right.

June 1, 2012 at 10:29 pm |

Trilobite

If you think wasting billions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of lives, creating region-wide anti-American sentiment (much worse than before), driving the U.S. economy into a pit, all to depose Saddam was worth it to anyone besides Halliburton and similar ilk, you must be a republican.

There are lots, then and now, of evil leaders killing their own people. Why Saddam? Why Iraq? What a joke.

June 1, 2012 at 10:29 pm |

eric

Actually Saddam should have been removed from power in 1993, by the UN for violating the peace treaty when he rejected weapons inspectors. It was stated in the peace treaty that he must allow weapons inspectors at any time or be removed from power, by force if necessary.

It wasn't done because Koffi Annan's kids were getting kickbacks on the oil for food program.

Oh, and I guess you haven't seen the actual advancements made in Iraq right? A new government being created, schools, homes, etc. etc.

Not saying that the massive loss of lives were worth it, but it is a VOLUNTEER army and we all knew what we were getting into when we took the oath.

June 1, 2012 at 10:34 pm |

Alex

The reason Saddam was killed was because he didn't suck up to the private central banks.

The OBL "death" was a re-election booster for Obama and another propaganda move. That towelhead died in 2001 from Marfan Syndrome – Look it up.

June 1, 2012 at 10:50 pm |

Oodoodanoo

The White House kept the whole bin Laden operation a secret. Of course they know how to keep quiet.

They're "leaking" all this stuff now, because it's an election year, and they want to shore up his foreign policy cred.

IMHO, this is the Administration acknowledging reality. Do the American public REALLY think that anything released by the US Govt (Obama's admin or otherwise) isn't already known by other nations? Does any partisan idiot REALLY think that Obama (or his staff) is blithely revealing secrets? Pure silliness. Nope, really, it is. I guarantee you, anything ANY Administration releases (at least at senior levels) has already been vetted through NSA, CIA, DoD, FBI, and more. Please.

Remember this is election year, you have to publicize your accomplishments and will to tame demons of terrorism to convince voters or else. It is not like Bush administration outing CIA agents and their connections.

This just proves how naive and immature the Obama administration is. They have no clue how ruthless the world is, they don't appreciate the sacrifices made in the past wars by American soldiers so that we can have freedom.

"This just proves how naive and immature the Obama administration is. They have no clue how ruthless the world is, they don't appreciate the sacrifices made in the past wars by American soldiers so that we can have freedom."

Can you provide any reliable proof or evidence for these bold claims you make?

Only because of the ground work done by the Bush administration. He loves to give Bush all the blame how about giving him some of the credit. NAH, I did it all by myself. I did it all by myself, everything taught the pilots to fly, taught the rangers to shoot, me, me, me. "NOT"

If he had failed, you would be running around blaming him as Jimmy Carter 2.

Be a man - admit it, and then admit that he gambled and won. You know it, and you can't stand it.

June 1, 2012 at 10:16 pm |

eric

He didn't gamble. The military gambled. President gets way to much credit and way to much blame.

June 1, 2012 at 10:21 pm |

pt

Who killed Bin Laden? Here's a Marine's answer:
" America is not at war, the US Marines are at war; America
is at the mall."
Let's be clear on this: OBAMA did NOT kill Bin Laden. An American sailor, who Obama, just a few weeks before, was debating on whether or not to PAY, did! In fact, if you remember a little less than two years ago, his administration actually charged and
attempted to court-martial three Navy Seals from Seal Team Six, when a terrorist suspect they captured, complained they had punched him during the take-down and bloodied his nose. Obama's administration further commented how brutal they were. The left were calling them Nazi's and Baby Killers. Now all of a sudden, the
very brave men they vilified are now heroes when they make his administration look good in the eyes of the public. Obama just happened to be the one in office when the CIA finally found the And our sailors took him out. Essentially, Obama only gave an answer, Yes or No, to him being taken out. This is NOT an Obama victory, but an AMERICAN victory!!

Ed Schreiber
Col. US MC (Ret.)
"Semper Fi"
OBAMA'S OWN WORDS TRAP HIM:
2008: "Navy Seal Team 6 is Cheney's private assassination team."
2011: "I put together Seal Team 6 to take out Bin Laden."
2008: "Bin Laden is innocent until proven guilty, and must be captured alive and given a fair trial."
2011: "I authorized Seal Team 6 to kill Bin Laden."
2008: " Guantanamo is entirely unnecessary, and the detainees should not be interrogated."
2011: "Vital intelligence was obtained from Guantanamo
detainees that led to our locating Bin Laden."

Rough men visited violence on those that would harm us. Obama didn't even say "we" did it. He said "he" did it. Obama did nothing but open his pie hole and say go. And that was so that he would have something for the election, because the economy sure has gone to hell. He won't win re-election.

June 1, 2012 at 10:33 pm |

Yiles

STOP using facts! Libs hate that!

June 1, 2012 at 10:35 pm |

Ben

Thanks for your service, Ed, and for promoting the truth.

And another thing... why does the submit/publish button say "publicar?" We still speak English in America, right? Or is that Obama's next great plan?

pt, what are you 80?
Do some research. Everything you get in your email is not true.
You cannot find any reference to those quotes. You just cut and pasted a stupid urban legend.
Don't be so gullible and allow other people to make you look stupid.

June 2, 2012 at 9:05 am |

sawolf

The NAVY removed osama while barry sat with his thumb up his backside and then revealed the individual who made the ops a go.

Don't be naive. Obama didn't get Osama – several years of work by various intel and military operatives got Osama. Obama just nodded yes, when presented with the compelling case to do the final deed. A 3rd grader would have made the same move.

You know what's funny? Let's say if the mission to get Bin Laden had failed with mass casualties on our side, guess who the GOPers would blame? Obama.

So if it's a success, what's wrong with him receiving the credit?

June 1, 2012 at 10:20 pm |

eric

As I said before, President gets to much blame and to much credit.

June 1, 2012 at 10:24 pm |

Belseth

And George W couldn't have found him if he was sitting across the dinner table from him. He hadn't moved in years and was in the area people rumored for years. The truth is there were families ties, the families were friendly, so they only feebly tried to get him over the years. Saying Obama can't take credit and hinting it was more a Bush win is sad. Obama ended one Bush war and set a deadline for ending the second. The Republicans keep complaining that he hasn't fixed 8 years of Bush in three years with all their stonewalling. They demand he fix their messes then insist they can do a better job. Are people really this clueless?????

June 1, 2012 at 10:41 pm |

shaleefa

Saying that Obama got Osama without the groundwork laid for years under Bush and Clinton is like saying Harry S Truman won WWII without any help from FDR. Just saying..

It is rather amazing how porous this Administration is. It certainly gives the impression that their political advantage comes 1st before anything else, prosperity, national security, honor...you name it. 'Spin' is the highest value of them all it would seem.

"It is rather amazing how porous this Administration is. It certainly gives the impression that their political advantage comes 1st before anything else, prosperity, national security, honor...you name it. 'Spin' is the highest value of them all it would seem."

Very amusing. If these secrets weren't leaked, wouldn't you be throwing a hissy fit over the government keeping secrets from its citizens? Nice try though.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.